Paper short abstract:

This report offers an overview of my findings after conducting open interviews with icelandic ethnology and folklore students and collecting answers to an questionnaire to the same group. What affect has Covid-19 had on people's schooling, learning experience and opportunity to conduct field work?

Paper long abstract:

Iceland has been praised by the global media for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has held information briefings for the public almost daily on the state television and radio where "the trio" lay down the lines of restrictions and measures. For the most part the Icelandic science community and government argues that Iceland has also managed to control new strains of the virus at the nations border (i.e. the national airport) and managed to keep the virus largely outside healthcare institutes. The public has placed all its trust in the scientific community, both state and private, in the fight against the virus, the virus being the clear enemy.

The actions of the government have predominantly been met with serenity and understanding by the public, but there is no doubt that fatigue is beginning to be felt regarding actions by the government, people long for life to return to normal. University students are no exception to this. For students who rely on being able to conduct field work and interviews, "the situation" has certainly not been simple. Through interviews and questionnaires, I have tried my best to paint a picture of what measures the students themselves have taken, how they have felt during this liminal time and how "the situation" has affected the students' lives and studies for the worse or even for the better.